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St. Louis Officer Shoots Burglary Suspect

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ST. LOUIS (KMOX)-A 21-year-old burglary suspect is expected to survive after being shot by a St. Louis Police officer late Wednesday morning.

Captain Michael Sack says officers were called to the 3900 block of Compton for burglars in the building. He says when they got there, they found that someone had forced their way into the vacant residence on the west side of Compton, four houses south of Keokuk. He says as the officers approached, “The subject who was inside the building ran through a window on the first floor, exited the building and fled from the residence.”

Sack says the officers chased the suspect across Compton, into an alley, “One of the officers was able to catch up to him and grab him by the shirt collar. At that point the suspect reached around with his hand and grabbed ahold of the officer’s gun. The officer then fired one shot, striking the suspect in the shoulder.”

Sack says the officer, who was not hurt, is a 28-year-old, two-year force veteran.

Investigators don’t know if the suspect had any accomplices.

This is the 14th officer-involved shooting of the year. Sack says the five-year average is 13. Why the increase? “The number of shootings is going to be tied to those encounters in which officers are put in fear for their safety. It’s just more common now that subjects are assaulting officers.”